Okorocha’s Wife, Son in-law Fingered  in Plot to Impeach Imo Deputy Gov

By Amby Uneze in Owerri 

Sequel to the open endorsement of his son-in-law and Chief of Staff, Chief Uche Nwosu by the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha as his successor, strong indications emerged yesterday of impeachment move of the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere by the kitchen cabinet of the governor.

Madumere is seen as the main opposition to the governor’s plan to install Nwosu who is also from his Orlu Senatorial zone.

Investigations reveal that the wife of the Governor, Nneoma Rochas Nkechi Okorocha and Nwosu, who had been reported to have received “induced” endorsements across the state, especially from unemployed youths, are alleged to be behind the plot that has reached an advanced stage.

Reacting to the  allegation, chief press secretary to the governor, Sam Onwuemeodo dismissed  it as of no substance , stating, “of what political value will the impeachment of the Deputy Governor now add to anybody or organisation in the State at the moment?

According to reliable sources, the governor’s wife and other collaborators in the plot to make Nwosu the next governor of the state come 2019 at all cost perceived the Deputy Governor as a major obstacle due to Madumere’s clean record and gentility.

The source stated that Mrs. Okorocha’s grouse against Madumere was not unconnected with his popularity, which is said to be giving Governor Okorocha sleepless nights.

It was said that the pressure on the Governor coming from various quarters including powerful people from within and outside the State insisting that right thing be done may have influenced the decision by the wife of the governor, her son-in-law to resort to impeachment move. This move according to the source is considered an only module to pave way to hatching out plan to foisting Okorocha’s daughter’s hubby on Imo people as Governor after his tenure.

The State Ministry of Finance is said to have been given a marching order to mop up huge funds to lobby members of the House of Assembly. It was also hinted that a serving Commissioner would serve as a liaison with members of the House of Assembly from Owerri zone to bring the plot to fruition.

The source further disclosed that the lawmaker from Owerri zone, where the Deputy Governor is also from, has been promised the position of Speaker and automatic ticket for him and other lawmakers who are involved in the plot, while those who would sign the impeachment would be  allocated landed property in choice areas.

Onwuemeodo said “The truth of the matter is that those who cooked up the impeachment story with the hope that it would help them in their ambition are also the ones marketing it. Hon. Osuji is not even one of the Principal Officers of the House as I write and Hon. Mbata is not a member of the Assembly. How then would they impeach the deputy governor?

“The point is that anybody who thinks that he can win the governorship election in the state in 2019 without the contribution of Governor Rochas Okorocha should go and do what Rochas did in 2011 by taking the ticket of APGA and winning the election and in 2015 when he joined APC in a zone that was dominated by PDP and also won his election. That is the best action now.

“There are a lot of Political Parties looking for people to come and take their tickets. Any of the aspirants who thinks or feels he has the political capacity to win election in Imo without Rochas’ contribution should go for the ticket of one of such parties and win election and let us see.

“But for APC Imo, Rochas Okorocha cannot and will not be allowed to leave it for anybody because when he was risking his second tenure and life to build the party most of these people were either not there or were sitting on the fence”, he stated.

However when contacted, the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Uche Onwuchekwa, dismissed it as mere ruse intended to heat up the polity for mischievous reasons. He, however, confirmed that the Office of the Deputy Governor had been inundated with calls from across the state and beyond concerning the purported impeachment.

Onwuchekwa further noted that “even though the issue is still regarded as mere rumour, let it be known that any such scheme will be counter-productive and an ill wind that will blow no one any good.”

He also described the said impeachment plot as the “handiwork of detractors and those who are daily intimidated by the growing popularity and acceptability of the Deputy Governor across the state.”

Meanwhile, it was gathered that the massive Solidarity March involving over 3000 Imolites from different pressure groups in support of Madumere’s governorship ambition, may have infuriated the first family, who saw it as an affront against their wishes to install their son-in-law (Nwosu) as the next governor come 2019.